Online shopping has steadily grown in popularity over the past few years. Most people find the option of finding what you want to buy and purchasing it without the need to get up off the sofa very appealing. Online shopping offers speed and convenience, along with the option to easily purchase items that might not be available locally. Over the past couple of years, the COVID19 pandemic has made online shopping even more prevalent, booming at the start of the crisis when high street stores temporarily closed to the public as a safety measure. So, it’s no surprise that starting your own online shop is a great business venture. Read on to find out more about the basics of starting an online shop using WordPress.
Choosing a Domain Name
Before you get started, the first thing to do is make sure that there is a domain name that is available for your chosen business name. Ideally, you should choose a domain name that is as close as possible to your business name to avoid confusion. You will also need to choose a suffix for your domain name – while there are lots of different ones available, .com and .co.uk are the most recommended since these are the standard options that most people will expect to use.
Working With a Developer
While it is possible to build your online shop yourself if you are feeling creative and up for a challenge, working with a WordPress development agency is definitely the best move since this will help you ensure that you get your online shop off to a professional start and avoid the common hiccups that often come with designing your own site. Along with this, if you don’t know how to code, you will usually need to use a template to design your WordPress site, which can make it harder for your shop to stand out as you probably won’t be the only one using the same theme. A good WordPress developer can create a custom, unique website that instantly sets you apart from your competition.
Site Content
Once you’ve got the design side of things covered, it’s time to think about the site content. WordPress is an easy to use platform that allows you to comfortably make updates to your site after it has been designed. Along with adding products for sale, you should add plenty of information about your brand so that customers can see what you are all about and what you offer. Consider adding a blog, which is easy to do in WordPress, so that you can update the site with fresh content regularly and give your customers a reason to return.
Search Engine Optimization
Another factor to consider when starting an online shop with WordPress is SEO. Many web design agencies also offer SEO so this might be something worth considering when you find a developer. With online shopping so popular, a good SEO strategy from the start is essential to getting your business found online. You can also use various SEO plugins with WordPress such as Yoast SEO.
These days, online shopping is a booming industry. If you want to get a piece of the pie, WordPress offers an excellent platform for your eCommerce store.
